Top 3 Miles Rewards Credit Cards

09.30.15

When you’re shopping for the perfect credit card, you often look for the best rewards. Plenty of credit cards offer bonus benefits, such as cash back, rewards points, and travel rewards. If you find yourself up the air more often than others, an air miles rewards credit card is the way to go. There are many different types of miles rewards credit cards. Some benefit travelers who travel within the United States, while others have international travelers in mind. There are even cards for people who like to travel on a budget! If you’re looking for an excellent best miles rewards credit card, here are three of the best.

United MileagePlus Explorer CardAnnual Fee: $95

Do you like to fly across America? If you want to use your miles within the states, check out the United MileagePlus Explorer Card. For every dollar you spend, you get a mile back (double the miles when you buy United Airlines tickets). Although your miles can only be used to fly on United Airlines or its affiliates, the benefits are still very appealing. The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year. When you fly, you don’t have to pay for a checked bag and you have first priority during boarding time. There are a multitude of bonuses as well: you receive a bonus for adding an authorized user, you get two passes to the United Club every year, and you receive 30,000 bonus miles if you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of owning the card.

British Airways Visa Signature CardAnnual Fee: $95

If you’re a regular globetrotter, you might like the British Airways Visa. You receive points called “avios” when you spend money; you get one avois for spending one dollar (on regular purchases) and three avois for every dollar spent on British Airways purchases. Avios can be spent on flights, and if you spend $2,000 within three months of opening the card, you get 50,000 avios. Whenever you spend $30,000 within one year, you get a “travel together” ticket whenever you buy a ticket with your avios. Since this is a card for international fliers, domestic fliers will be disappointed; avios can only be used with Oneworld partners, which specializes in international flights.

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Credit CardAnnual Fee: $99

Travel expenses aren’t limited to airfare. You’ll need to rent a car and book a hotel. Why not get rewards for the other costs of travel? With this credit card, you can. Cardholders get double points on Southwest ticket purchases. They also get double points when they rent cars and book hotel rooms with affiliates of Southwest. Like the other cards on our list, the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card gives one point per dollar spent on anything else. Although the $99 annual fee isn’t waived for the first year, cardholders will enjoy receiving 6,000 points on the anniversary of opening their account. There are no spending requirements for the hefty bonus!